GRAEME McDOWELL gets a first look at Gullane today as he seeks to regain the form that saw him win the Scottish Open title at Loch Lomond in 2008.

McDowell yesterday crashed out in the double defence of his French Open title in heatwave conditions in Versailles with scores of 72 and 78 for an eight-over-par tally on the 2018 Ryder Cup host venue.

It continues a poor run for the 2010 US Open winner who will now drop outside the top-50 in the world in the rankings on Monday for the first time in more than five years.

But the 35-year-old Irishman is determined to get his game back in shape and is ready to strip it bare and rebuild it as he prepares for his next challenge at Gullane.

He said: “When you’re not playing well a tough course is going to beat you up. But then this week was not about trying to win three French Opens in a row – it was more about where my game is at right now.

“I am aware my season is not going the way I want it to and I just need a couple of good weeks. There is a lot of technique in my mind and I have to strip that out and get back to basics.

“I am working with probably one of the best coaches in the world in Pete Cowen and I probably know a little bit too much – and it’s very hard to un-know something.

“It means stripping all the technical stuff out of my mind.

“I have been chiselling away by myself the last few weeks and now I will catch-up with Pete.

“So I’m off to Scotland for an early practice round at Gullane on Saturday but it’s not as though any alarm bells are ringing because I want to stress they’re not.

“I’m looking forward to what should be a more straightforward test at Gullane and to get myself ready for The Open at St Andrews.”

Meanwhile, Richie Ramsay continues to relish the fiery nature of the Le National course after putting himself within striking distance of the leaders heading into the closing two rounds.